Check-row corn-planter.



110,729,986. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

' P. B. WISTRAND.

CHECK ROW 001m PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUN}: 23, 1902. v no 110921,. 4 sums-sum 1 Hdif asses v 'No. 729,986. 'PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

P. E. WISTRAND.

CHECK ROW 00m: PLANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3. 1902- I0 IODBL. & SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 729,986. PATENTED JUNE 2', 1903.

P. E. WISTRAND. I

GHL ECK, ow 001m PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED 'JUNE 23, 1902. 7 N0 MODEL; 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I l I f/7; l rm' I PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.

P. E.-WISTRAND. CHECK ROW CORN PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 N0 MODEL.

PETER WISTRAND,

Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

OF GALVA, ILLINOIS.

CHECK-ROW CORN-PLANTER.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,986, dated J mac 2, 1903.

' Application filed June 23, 1902. Serial No. 112,813. (No model.)

Z'o ctZZ whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER E. W'ISTRAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galva, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Check-Row Gorn-Planten of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to check-row cornplanters; and it has for its object to provide a machine of this class which shall be simple in construction, durable, and efficient in operation.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts,- which will he'- hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective-view showing a part of the front or runner frame of the planter, one of the runners and seed-tubes, and the seedbox and the. hinged bottom for thelatter, said seedbox and hinged bottom being turned upon their hinges to positions which will enable the detailed construction to be readily seen. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the runner; the seedtube, seedbox, and inclosed parts, the several parts having been shown in position for' operation. Fig. 3 is a detailed: view in elevation of the ratchet mechanism whereby the seeding mechanism is operated, the shafts supporting said ratchet mechanism being shown in section and the pawl engaging the ratchet being shown at the beginning of its stroke. Fig. at is a similar view, but show-' ing the operating-pawl at the end of its stroke.

. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the seed-disk and the pinion engaging and operating the same. Fig. 6 is a detail top or plan view showing the check-head or checking mechanism. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the rear end of the same. Fig. 5) is an end elevation, partly in section, showing the front end and with dotted lines indicating the dropped position of the flanged supportingroller. Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the front guide of the checking mechanism. Fig. 11 is a detail view in elevation and partly in section, showing a part of the frame of the machine, one of the runners and seed-tubes, and the mechanism for operating the machine as a drill,-the pawl operated by the rock-shaft of thechecking mechanism being thrown out of gear.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by like characters of reference.

Inasmuch as my invention relates to detailed parts of the machine only, only the parts of the frame of said machine necessary to support the parts constituting my inven-- tion have been shown.

1 designates the front or runner frame bar,

and 2 a frame-bar parallel to the same, the

two serving to support the seed-tubes and runners, which are bolted to the said framebars.

Two complete sets of seeding mechanism are usually employed in a machine of this class; but only one set has been shown in the drawings, this being sufficient to illustrate my invention.

3 designates the runner or furrow-opener, and 4 the seed-tube, which is in the main of ordinary construction.

5 is the rock-shaft, which extends trans- .versely across the machine and which is actuated in. the usual manner by the checking mechanism, and 6 is a shaft having its bearings in the seed-tubes of the runner-frame and extending transversely across the mac ine in rear of the rock-shaft 5, from which motion is transmitted to it in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The rock-shaft 5 is provided with a crank 7, extending into the seed-tube and having its end pivotally connected with the upper end of the lower seed-valve 8. The latter extends downwardly into the seed-tube nearly to the lower or discharge end of the latter and is provided at its lower end with an angular or V-shaped portion, the upper part of which,9,rests upon a pin 10, extendingtransversely through the seed-tube,while the lower part 11 of said V-shaped portion is'adapted to engage or bear against the rear side or wall of the seed-tube, thus closing the outlet of the latter. It will be observed that the pin 10 holds the valve 8 from contact with the front wall of the seed-tube, leaving an open or empty space (designated by 12) and which serves to prevent dirt and other obstructions from clogging the lower end of the seed-tube and interfering with the successful operation of the device. The V-shaped portion at the lower end of the valve 8 serves to support the seed-kernels until by the opera-.

tion of the valve they are dropped or discharged at the lower end of the seed-tube.

The upper seed-valve 13, which is mounted upon a pin or shaft 14 in the upper end of the seed-tube, near the front wall of thelatter, is connected pivotally with one end of a link 15, which extends rearward and the other end of which has pivotal connection with the crank 7, mounted upon the rock-shaft 5. It will thus be seen that when the latter is actuated byits operating mechanism the valves 8 and 13 are simultaneously operated thereby, with the result that when the valve 8 is moved downwardly to discharge the seedkernels supported by it the valve 13 is moved in a rearward direction, so as to close the outlet and to receive the seed-kernels conveyed thereto from the seedboX by the mechanism to be hereinafter described. WVhen, on the other hand, the valve Sis raised to its closed position, the upper valve 13 is thrown open, thus permitting the seed-kernels supported thereby to drop from the seed-tube and onto the lower valve.

Suitably bolted to the front frame-bar 1 is a casting 16, having upwardly-extending ears or lugs 17, which are perforated to receive a pin or bolt 18, upon which the seedbox 19 and the seedboX-bottom 20 are hinged or mounted by means of perforated lugs or arms 21 and 22, extending from said seedboX and bottom or bottom plate, respectively. The seedbox may be constructed as an entire casting, or the lower or bottom portion thereof may be cast and the upper or hopper portion be constructed of sheet metal. It is also provided with a suitably-arranged lid or cover 23. To the rear side of the hopper portion of the seedbox is suitably attached a spring hook or catch 24, adapted to engage a lip or catch 25, which may be formed upon the rear side of the seed-t ube standard at the upper end there of and just above the frame-bar 2 of the machine, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. By this construction it will be seen that when the bottom plate 20 and seed box 19 are folded down to the operative position (shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings) the spring-catch 24 serves to secure them firmly in such position.

The bottom plate 20, which is provided near its rear end with a vertical perforation or passage 26 for the passage of seed, carries on its upper side the seed-disk 27, which is mounted upon a vertical pin or pivot 28 and which may be provided with any desired number of equidistantlyarranged vertical perforations or seed-cups 29, adapted to register with the perforation 26 in the bottom plate 20. The seed-disk 27 is also provided at its edge or periphery with teeth or cogs 30, the number of which equals that of the seedcups 29, one of said cogs or teeth being arranged opposite to each seed-cup. The teeth or cogs 30 of the seed-disk are engaged by the teeth of a pinion 31, mounted upon the shaft 6, which latter thus serves to operate the seeding mechanism when itself is operated by the actuating mechanism to be hereinafter described.

The bottom of the seedbox 19 is provided near its front edge with a segmental opening 32, adapted to register with the openings or seed-cups 29 in the seed-disk and to convey the seed from the hopper to the seed-cups. The seedbox 19 may by disengaging the spring-hook 24: from the catch 25 and temporarily retaining the bottom plate 20 in contact with its under side be tilted to the po sition shown in Fig. 1, even when the box is full of seed, in order to enable access to be had to the mechanism located underneath for the purpose of exchanging the seed-disk for another having seed-cups or openings of a different size or for any purpose which may render access to the seeding mechanism necessary or desirable.

In the foregoing I have described only a single set of seed mechanism, with the understanding, however, that two (or more) sets of this mechanism are to be employed in a complete machine, two sets being the number usually employed in a check-rower of ordinary construction, as is well known. The mechanism for operating the seeding mechanism, which I am now about to describe, will serve to operate the several sets of seeding mechanism employed, as will be readily understood.

The shaft 6, carrying the pinions 31, (one for each set of seeding meehanism,) also carries a ratchet-wheel 33, having teeth 34; of the curved shape clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. This peculiar curved shape may not be absolutely necessary for the successful operation of the device; but I prefer it, inasmuch as it affords a better point of contact for the operating pawl or dog 35, which has pivotal connection at 36 with an arm or crank 37, suitably mounted upon the rock-shaft 5. The dog or pawl 35 is provided near its front end with a downwardly-extending lug 38, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 33. Near its inner or rear end the pawl 35 has another downwardly-extend ing lug 39, which when the dogis at the front end of its stroke will engage or bear against the edge of the ratchet-wheel between the teeth thereof, thus forming a positive stop to prevent the said ratchet-wheel from being rotated even very slightly beyond the proper point by the impulse imparted thereto by the lug 38 of the pawl. Between the said lug 38 and the front end of the pawl 35 is formed an angle 40, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, whereby the teeth of the ratchet-wheel are engaged very positively and without the danger or even the possibility of slipping.

41 designates a stop catch or hook which is IIC mounted pivotally upon the rock-shaft 5, adjacent to the arm or crank 37, and which engages the teeth 34 of the ratchet-wheel 33 on the under side of the latter and which serves to form a stop or detent to prevent the back movement of the ratchet-wheel 33 when the pawl or dog 35 is moved back for a repetition of its stroke. The hook or detent 41, as well as the dog or pawl 35, is held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet by means of a coiled contractive spring 42, the ends of which are suitably connected with said detent and pawl, both of which being located on and engaging opposite sides of the ratchet-wheel or disk will both be actuated by the single spring.

By the mechanism just described the shaft 6, carrying thepinions 31, whereby the seed' ing mechanism is actuated, will be operated intermittently by the rock-shaft 5 with great accuracy and positiveness, the importance of which is well understood in a machine of this character. It is obvious that the parts are to be so proportioned that by each operation of the shaft 6 the seed-disk of each seeding mechanism shall be moved just snfiiciently to expose the seed-cup next in order over the seed-tube.

The rock-shaft 5 of the machine is normally thrown in a forward direction by the action of the usual spring employed for the purpose, one end of which may in this instance be connected. with the crank or arm 37 and the other end with a suitable point of attachment upon-the frame of the machine, as has been shown in Fig. 1. of the drawings, where the said spring has been designated by 43. The rockshaft 5 is actuated against the tension of the spring by the checking mechanism, the detailed construction of which I shall now proceed to describe.

With regard to the checking mechanism it will of course be understood that a checkinghead carrying the parts of the mechanism will be used at each side of the machine, as is customary in all check-row corn-planters; also, that the mechanism is constructed to fit the right and left sides of the machine. In all essential particulars, however, the construction of the checking mechanism used at the two sides of the machine is identical, and the description of one will answer for both.

44 designates the check-head, as I prefer to designate the cast-iron frame supporting the parts that constitute the check mechanism and which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured upon the ends of the frame-bars 1 and 2 of the machine. The said head or frame is provided at its rear end with an upright 45, the upper end of which has an outwardly-extending inclined arm or bracket 46, to the under side of which the rear guide-roller 47 is journaled by'means of a pin 48. The guideroller 47, which is thus arranged in an inclined position, is provided at its outer edge with a broad flange 49, which serves to support the tappet-wire and to prevent it from sliding off the supporting-finger 50, which extends laterally from the upright 45 below the guide-roller and the outer end of which is beveled, as shown at 51. It will be seen, particularly by reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings, that the inclined arm 46, the flanged guide-roller 47, andv the guide-finger 50, together constitute the walls of a passage (indicated in Fig. 8 by 52) through which the tappet-wire may pass without danger of slipping out of position. At the same time reference to Figs. 6 and 7 will show that the guide-roller 47 and the finger 50 are not-located in the same vertical planes. Consequently the tappet-wire may when desired be readily disengaged therefrom.

The front guide-roller 53, whichis provided at its inner edge with a flange 54, is jonrnaled upon a pin 55, which is connected with the outer or free end of an arm or lever 56, having pivotal connection at 57 with an upright 58, rising from the front end of the checkhead or frame. The inner end or head of the lever 56 has a cam-shaped projection or tooth 59, which when engaged by the inner end of a dog or pawl 60, which is pivoted to the upright 58 above the pivotal point of the lever 56, will serve to sustain the said lever 56 in the approximately horizontal'position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The outer end of the dog 60 is weighted, so as to hold it normally in engagement with the cam-shaped projection 59 of the arm or lever 56.

61 designates one end of a rope or operating-cord, which is suitably connected with the free weighted end of the dog 60 and which reaches to a point easily accessible to the driver of the machine. It will be seen that by pulling the said cord 61 the weighted end of the dog 60 will be lifted, thus disengaging the said dog from the cam-shaped projection 59 of the lever 56 and permitting the latter, together with the guide-pulley 53, carried thereby, to drop to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

To the front side of the upright 58 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured a bifurcated guide 62, opening outwardly, as will be seen.

The arm or lever 56 and the dog 60 have been described as having pivotal connection with the upright 58, from which it may be inferred that they may be simply pivoted to the rear side of said upright. In practice, however, I prefer to provide the said upright at its upper end with a transverse recess or socket 63, between the arms or sides of which the parts 56 and 60 are pivotally mounted. By this construction,- which I prefer to use, owing to its strength and compactness, the engaging ends of the lever 56 and dog 60 are also concealed and protected, and this is the construction which has been shown'in the accompanying drawings.

The ends of the rock-shaft 5 will be provided in the usual manner with tappet-levers of ordinary construction. One of these 1evers will be seen at 65.

In operation the tappet-wire G6, which has been previously stretched across the field, is guided between the fingers of the bifurcated guide 62, over the lower flanged edge of the guide-roller 53, between the arms or fingers of the tappet-lever 65, over the guide-finger 50, and under the inclined guide-roller 47, the flange of which, 49, serves in a measure to support the said wire. As the machine progresses over the field the buttons or tappets of the Wire 66 will successively engage the tappet-lever, thus rocking the shaft 5 against the tension of the spring 43 in the usual way or manner. When the end of the field has been reached, the tappet-wire may be disengaged by pulling the cord 61, so as to release the dog from engagement with the cam 59 of lever 56, thus permitting the latter to drop to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, when the tappet-wire may be readily disengaged froin the check-head and after the machine has been turned be placed in engagement with the checking mechanism at the opposite side thereof.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings is shown mechanism whereby my improved planter may be converted from a check-rower into a drill. This mechanism comprises a sprocket-wheel 67, mounted upon or suitably connected with one of the supporting-wheels 68 of the machine and connected, by means of a chain 69, with a sprocket-wheel 70, mounted upon apin or shaft 71, which is journaled in suitable bearings at the outer end of an arm 72, the inner end of which is suitably connected by a joint 73 with the frame 74 of the machine. The shaft 71, which carries the sprocketwheel and which receives motion through the chain 69 from the supporting-wheel of the machine, also carries a ratchet-wheel 75 of suitable construction to engage with the ratchet-wheel 33 upon the shaft (3 of the machine and from which motion is communicated to the seeding mechanism. It will be seen that the peculiar construction of the ratchet-wheel 33, with its rounded teeth, lends itself particularly well to this purpose. Without such special construction it might be necessary to employ a separate pinion and a corresponding gear-wheel upon the shaft 71. SO designates a vertical rod or bar suitably secured to the rear frame-bar 2 of the seederframe directly below the arm of the framebar 72 and in such position that when the seeder-frame is tilted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 the said rod shall engage the said arm 72 and raise it to the position likewise shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, whereby the ratchet-wheel 75 shall be disengaged from the ratchet-Wheel 33, and thus throwing the drilling or continuous-feed mechanism out of gear. The checking mechanism may then be restored to an operative condition by simply throwing the dog or pawl 35 and the detent 41 into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 33 and connecting them by the spring 42, whereby they are retained in operative position. When the drilling mechanism is thus thrown out of gear, it may also be well to detach the chain 69 in order to avoid unnecessary wear upon the parts operated thereby; but when it shall be desired to substitute the drilling for the checking mechanism it is only necessary to lower the frame-bar 72 (the chain 69 having been placed inoperative position) to the position shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, thus causing the wheel 75 to. engage the wheel 33, the pawl 35 and detent 41 having been previously thrown out of engagement with the latter by disconnecting one end of the spring 42 and throwing the dog 35 forward to the position shown in Fig. 11. a speed governed bythe relative sizes of the sprocket-wheels 67 and 70 and the supporting-wheel 68 will thus be imparted to the shaft 6 and from the latter transmitted to the seeding mechanism.

For the purpose of. tilting the seeder-frame I avail myself of such means as are almost invariably found in corn-planters of ordinary construction, and as the said means form no part of my said invention I have not considered it necessary to illustrate the same in the drawings hereto attached.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination of the seed-tube, the valve mounted inthe same and having a vertical movement therein, and provided with a \l-shaped portion at its lower end, and a pin arranged transversely in the seed-tube to support the said V-shaped portion and to hold the lower edge of the latter in contact with the rear wall of the seed-tube when the valve is in its raised position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the seed-tube, of a valve vertically movable therein and having a V- shaped lower end, a pin extending transversely through the seed t-ube and supporting the said V-shaped portion, a crank mounted upon the rock-shaft of the machine operated by the checking mechanism, and a pivotal connection between said crank and the upper end of the vertically-movable valve, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the seed-tube, the verticallymovable valve having a V-shaped lower end, a pin supporting the same and serving to hold it out of contact with the front wall of the seed-tube, the seed -supporting valve mounted in the upper end of the latter, a crank mounted upon the rock-shaft of the machine operated by the checking mechanism, a pivotal connection between said crank and the vertically-movable valve,'and a link connecting said crank with the seed-supporting valve at the upper end of the seed-tube, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

A continuous rotary motion of combination of the'rock-shaft operated by the checking mechanism, a shaft arranged parallel to said rock-shaft and carrying means for operating the seeding mechanism, a ratchet-Wheel mounted upon said shaft and having rounded teeth, and a push-pawl having pivotal connection with a crank mounted upon the rock-shaft and provided with two downwardly-extending lugs, one of which serves to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel to operate the latter, and the other to engage the edge of said ratchet-wheel between the teeth thereof to form a stop, substantially as set forth. v

5. In a machine of the class described, the herein-described means for operating the drive-shaft of the seeding mechanism, the same comprising a ratchetwheel having rounded teeth, the same being mounted upon the drive-shaft of the seeding mechanism, a

and a spring connecting the said detent with the said push-pawl, substantially as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature i the presence oftwo witnesses.

PETER E. WISTRAND.

Witnesses:

ANDREW B. ANDERSON, EMIL R. L. RUDMAN. 

